University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Theses Organizational Dynamics Programs 7-1-2020 Re-Visioning Personal Myths In Executive Coaching Atif Iqbal University of Pennsylvania,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/od_theses_msod Part of the Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons Iqbal, Atif, "Re-Visioning Personal Myths In Executive Coaching" (2020). Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Theses. 104. https://repository.upenn.edu/od_theses_msod/104 Submitted to the Program of Organizational Dynamics, College of Liberal and Professional Studies in the School of Arts and Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania Advisor: Linda Pennington This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/od_theses_msod/104 For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Re-Visioning Personal Myths In Executive Coaching Abstract The purpose of this capstone is to study how executive coaches use stories to help their clients author a more empowering personal myth, in support of the client’s long- term vision that accounts for diverse personal and professional stakeholders. Through a multidisciplinary review of literature, the study enunciates how people create personal myths to make sense of their lives and why those invisible myths need to be continuously updated to account for life changes. The review of organizational research emphasizes the importance of choosing an archetype that supports a desired social identity at work. Following interviews with experienced coach practitioners, the study outlines a process by which coaches can ask for stories that not only help clients change but also lay the foundation of the deeper work clients need to do to articulate and realize their future vision.